Private equity boss David Bonderman, reportedly the 209th richest man in America, turns 70 next week. According to the BBC's business editor, Robert Peston, the co-founder of TPG Capital celebrated the milestone in Vegas with a private gig from Sir Paul McCartney. Bonderman is said by Forbes magazine to be worth in the region of $2bn, and a decade ago celebrated his 60th in similar style, with musical performances by The Rolling Stones and and a stand-up set by Robin Williams. That party cost him $7m.

One is the grande dame of the high street, a reliable mainstay of the retail world that first opened its doors in 1909. The other is a family whose international fame began in 2007 when one of its members was featured in one of the most successful sex tapes of all time.

Back by popular demand: Andrew Gowers, the former FT editor who these days is a public relations man for hire. PR Week reveals Gowers is joining the Association of Financial Markets in Europe on a three-month contract – the trade body's boss Simon Lewis says he has "been in some very interesting situations". He's not joking – Gowers did PR for Lehman Brothers until it went belly up and then moved on to BP, only to step down following the Deepwater Horizon debacle. Third time lucky, Lewis presumably hopes.

The role of central government politicians is to ensure that laws are clear and precise. Police forces have a clear mandate to apply them, free from interference. Once prime ministers, metropolitan mayors or home secretaries believe they are better placed than highly trained police officers to do the job and use their access to the media to make cheap political points, we are on a downward slide.